{"id":8001,"date":"2021-01-28T11:24:57","date_gmt":"2021-01-28T03:24:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?p=8001"},"modified":"2021-01-28T11:24:58","modified_gmt":"2021-01-28T03:24:58","slug":"dont-make-emergency-an-issue-free-msia-from-virus-says-legal-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?p=8001","title":{"rendered":"Don’t make emergency an issue, free M’sia from virus says legal expert"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 \u00a0\u2013\u00a0 The emergency proclaimed by the King to arrest the COVID-19 pandemic in the country should not be made an issue\u00a0because\u00a0Malaysia is not the only country that has declared it, said legal expert Datuk Mohd Haaziq Pillay Abdullah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said countries such as New Zealand, Japan, Australia, France, Finland, and Indonesia had also taken the same path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The senior lawyer underscored that although some may argue that it was against the principles of democracy, the overriding need to save lives took precedence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn my point of view, the declaration is necessary as the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) is no longer adequate to contain the worsening spread of the virus as the act requires procedures which may be time consuming and the decisions require lengthy discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt does not provide a fast and efficient remedy. A declaration of emergency is important. For instance, with the declaration of emergency, private hospitals can now be ordered to take in COVID-19 cases. This is just one example of where an executive order can be given without the need of bureaucratic processes,\u201d he told Bernama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no closed list and under the current situation when the country is facing a worsening of the pandemic, decisions must be made on the spot. For those who think that the emergency is politically driven, their view is misguided. In fact, it would appear to be a direct challenge on the powers of the King which is clearly provided for under the Constitution,\u201d he stressed further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing the same sentiments, lawyer Muhammad Akram Abdul Aziz said COVID-19 cases have been on the rise daily lately, and if the current State of Emergency could stabilise the current political situation in Malaysia while curbing the cases, then it might be a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter all, this is part of the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as stated in Article 150(1) of the Federal Constitution. It might be an issue from the perspective of local politicians, as some would view the emergency proclamation as a means of protecting the current government more than it is to curb the rise of COVID-19 cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs it stands, people are still going on with their daily lives as normal as they can (within the terms of the Movement Control Order), and as such it may be argued that the emergency proclamation is a non-issue to most of the Malaysian citizens,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"an<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As for Universiti Sains Malaysia\u2019s School of Social Sciences lecturer Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, he was of the view that during this period, all members of Parliament (MPs) should put the people first rather than other issues and that people-driven priorities during the emergency should be addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, meanwhile, urged  the government to use its powers to instruct financial institutions to stop chasing after debtors at least until the emergency is over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnder the emergency ordinance, the government has the power to instruct hotels or any other buildings to become quarantine centres. Same method should be applied to the banks. By doing this, people can see the benefits of the emergency,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Jan 12, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah proclaimed an Emergency which will be enforced up to Aug 1 as a proactive measure to contain the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— BERNAMA<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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